Round 3 of the 2026 Eir U16A All Ireland Championship
U16 A Championship: Round 3
Galway v Kilkenny
Date: Sun Mar 8, 2pm
Venue: Duggan Park
FT: Galway 2-13 Kilkenny 2-14
Grace Roche and Sinead Cash
Match Report
The Galway U16 team suffered their first defeat in the Eir U16A Championship as they lost out to Kilkenny by the narrowest of margins in a windy Duggan Park on Sunday.
The game got off to a blistering start with Rachel Duff hitting the back of the net for Kilkenny in the opening 30 seconds. Galway didn’t drop their heads however, as Ciara Mullins found the net just 30 seconds later. Dearbhla Ryan and Ruby Norris followed up with a point each for Kilkenny by the fourth minute.
Two points from Grace Roche, one from a free, along with a point from Katie Brogan gave the Tribeswomen the lead for the first time. Noa Bambrick added two frees to her tally either side of a point from Orna Dunne to leave the sides deadlocked by the 17th minute.
Galway regained the lead by the 23rd minute through a Cara Giblin free and another point from the accurate Dunne. Bambrick hit her third free of the day a minute later. Galway almost got in for a goal on the 25th minute but the shot was deflected out for a 45, which Giblin slotted over the bar. Dunne and Kate Dalton swapped points on the 26th minute, while Roche broke through the Kilkenny defence a minute later to get Galway’s second goal of the day. Duff responded immediately with a point for the Cats as Galway went in leading 2-8 to 1-7 at half time.
Bambrick opened the scoring in the second half as she split the posts inside the opening minute. Galway almost struck for another goal two minutes later but credit must go to Heidi Culleton, who pulled off a great save to deflect the ball out for a 45. Giblin pointed the resulting free. Giblin and Bambrick then swapped scores by the 38th minute, leaving four points between the sides.
Kilkenny hit a purple patch from the 43rd to the 50th minute. Duff and Norris pointed for Kilkenny before Duff struck for her second goal on the 50th minute to restore Kilkenny’s lead. Giblin responded with a pointed free two minutes later, followed by a fine point from Dunne to edge Galway back in front.
However, three unanswered points from Norris (0-2) and a free from Bambrick left Kilkenny two points ahead with two minutes remaining. Roche slotted over a late free on the 64th minute but it wasn’t enough for Galway, as Kilkenny ran out 2-14 to 2-13 winners.
Galway will be disappointed with the defeat, but it was a very competitive and entertaining game of camogie and one from which they can take many learnings. The Tribeswomen will look back on a number of missed scoring chances that could have helped them get over the line.
All is not lost however, and focus now switches to welcoming Limerick to Galway in two weeks’ time for their penultimate group game.
Team
